| 2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
I love the work done on the Paladin in Pathfinder, the knight in shining armor finally serving as a real knight in shining armor and serious threat to evil foes. There is however one point in the new rules that seems... odd.
The Paladin Capstone, Holy Champion, lets a Paladin that is smiting an evil outsider to subject them to a banishment effect that ends the smite upon its resolution. This is pretty cool... except per the wording they have to always banish, and thus end their smite, which is less cool. Wouldn't it make more sense to give the Paladin the option of smiting or banishing? Further, there is no note as to what happens if you are on another plane, for example, the fiend in question's home plane.
Perhaps this could be clarified on the errata? It seems kind of odd that a 19th level Paladin is better in a slug fest with a powerful evil outsider than a 20th+ level Paladin.
I love the work done on the Paladin in Pathfinder, the knight in shining armor finally serving as a real knight in shining armor and serious threat to evil foes. There is however one point in the new rules that seems... odd.
The Paladin Capstone, Holy Champion, lets a Paladin that is smiting an evil outsider to subject them to a banishment effect that ends the smite upon its resolution. This is pretty cool... except per the wording they have to always banish, and thus end their smite, which is less cool. Wouldn't it make more sense to give the Paladin the option of smiting or banishing? Further, there is no note as to what happens if you are on another plane, for example, the fiend in question's home plane.
Perhaps this could be clarified on the errata? It seems kind of odd that a 19th level Paladin is better in a slug fest with a powerful evil outsider than a 20th+ level Paladin.
I never noticed that before. It should be changed(IMHO).
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I love the work done on the Paladin in Pathfinder, the knight in shining armor finally serving as a real knight in shining armor and serious threat to evil foes. There is however one point in the new rules that seems... odd.
The Paladin Capstone, Holy Champion, lets a Paladin that is smiting an evil outsider to subject them to a banishment effect that ends the smite upon its resolution. This is pretty cool... except per the wording they have to always banish, and thus end their smite, which is less cool. Wouldn't it make more sense to give the Paladin the option of smiting or banishing? Further, there is no note as to what happens if you are on another plane, for example, the fiend in question's home plane.
Perhaps this could be clarified on the errata? It seems kind of odd that a 19th level Paladin is better in a slug fest with a powerful evil outsider than a 20th+ level Paladin.
Hmmm.
Well Banishment itself stipulates home plane. I was always under the impression that was fixed as though to imply that you only have the ability to *oomfh* a creature out of your home court.
As to the Banish/ending thing...were you thinking that the smite should continue so that you can follow the target? I read the line about the "effect" as though it applies only if the banishment was successful...at least I did until your post...I agree, a "it works *this* way" would be helpful.
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| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
I would take it as meaning you get the option to banish every round you're smiting, and the smite only ends, if the banishment is successful.
It would make sense, as written, if a banished outsider were unable to return for some time (a year and a day?). Then, banishment has the same end result as killing them, and forcing them to reform/regrow a new body on their home plane.
But, since a banished creature is in no way prevented from simply coming straight back, then it is a disadvantage to be banishing them, rather than killing them, since you gain only a temporary reprieve.
You could also be accused of giving them an escape route?
The paladin has spent several years, and twenty levels, getting to the point of cornering the mastermind behind the campaign metaplot, only to give him a free ticket out?
If the banished creature chooses to return, not to the scene of the battle, but to a point miles away, then would the paladin be aware of this?
If not, then he will be oblivious to the creature's plans continuing unopposed.
If he is aware of the creature's new location (from a friendly diviner?), then he will be forced to spend the rest of his life, chasing round the world for the sake of one round of combat with the creature every day.
Sometimes, it's beneficial to banish, if the creatue is a minion, and not important to the diabolical plan. Get rid of him in one round, rather than 2 or 3.
Banishing the over-boss can also be useful, to give the party a reprieve, cure up, finish off the evil hench-creatures, stop the ritual, smash the Doomsday Device, etc.
Other times, you really want to end this creature, right here, right now.
Hence, it should be an option, not a default.
Can we get a response regarding this from a designer?